Biography

PRO (55-18/0-0): Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Cortez Allen was drafted by the Steelers in the fourth round (128th overall) of the 2011 NFL Draft.

Cortez AllenCornerback

PRO (55-18/0-0): Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Cortez Allen was drafted by the Steelers in the fourth round (128th overall) of the 2011 NFL Draft.

2014 (11-7/0-0): Cortez Allen saw action in 11 games with seven starts…inactive 11/30 vs. New Orleans due to a thumb injury…placed on the team’s Reserve/Injured List due to a thumb injury on December 6, 2014.

9/7 vs. Cleveland: Started at CB for the second consecutive season opener…led the cornerback group with five tackles.

9/21 at Carolina: Led the team with a career-best nine tackles.

9/28 vs.Tampa Bay: Recorded his first interception of the season and returned it 27 yards…added a season-high two pass breakups.

10/5 at Jacksonville: Recorded his second interception of the season and the sixth of his career…became the first Steeler to have an interception in back-to-back games since 2011 (Ike Taylor, Weeks 12-13)…totaled double-digit tackles (10) for the first time in his career.

10/12 at Cleveland: Tallied his second career fumble recovery in the fourth quarter that was forced by S Mike Mitchell…played in his 50th career contest.

2013 (14-8): Saw action in 14 games, making a career-best eight starts…registered first career interception return for a touchdown (12/22 at Green Bay)…inactive for two games due to an ankle injury (9/16 at Cincinnati and 9/22 vs. Chicago).

10/20 vs. Baltimore: Led the defensive backs in tackles (9)…added one special teams tackle.

10/27 at Oakland: Recorded his third career interception.

11/10 vs. Buffalo: Recorded a season-high two pass breakups.

11/17 vs.Detroit: Tied his season high with two pass breakups.

11/28 at Baltimore: Totaled one pass breakup and one special teams tackle.

12/8 vs.Miami: Tied for the team lead with two pass breakups.

12/15 vs.Cincinnati: Led the defensive backs with eight tackles.

12/22 at Green Bay: Picked off QB Matt Flynn and returned it 40 yards for a touchdown…marked his fourth career interception, the second this season and his first returned for a touchdown.

12/29 vs.Cleveland: Led the defensive backs with two pass breakups.

2012 (15-3): Cortez Allen saw an increased role in his second season, serving as the team’s top reserve cornerback…made the first three starts of his career, starting three of the last four regular-season games in place of injured CB Ike Taylor...was inactive for Week 15 at Dallas with a groin injury…caused five turnovers in the final two games of the season (two interceptions, three forced fumbles)…finished the season with new career highs in nearly every statistical category, including tackles (44), forced fumbles (3), interceptions (2), and fumble recoveries (1)…also tied a career high with eight special teams tackles…10/7 vs. Philadelphia: Had one special teams stop…10/11 at Tennessee: Tallied a career-high five tackles…10/21 at Cincinnati: Had one special teams stop…10/28 vs. Washington: Had one special teams tackle…11/4 at N.Y. Giants: Recorded one special teams stop…11/12 vs. Kansas City: Had a team-high two special teams stops…11/18 vs. Baltimore: Named a special teams captain for the game…11/25 at Cleveland: Had two special teams tackles…12/2 at Baltimore: Saw significant action at CB in place of injured CB Ike Taylor…led the defensive backs in tackles (6) and pass breakups (4)…the four pass breakups was a career high…was part of a secondary that held the Ravens to 177 net passing yards…12/9 vs. San Diego: Made his first career start at CB in place of injured CB Ike Taylor…recorded a career-high seven tackles…12/16 at Dallas: Inactive due to a groin injury, snapping a streak of 28 consecutive regular-season games played.

2011 (15-0/0-0): Saw action in 15 games on special teams and in the secondary…missed one regular-season contest due to an ankle injury and the lone postseason contest with a shoulder injury…recorded 10 tackles and added eight special teams tackles…9/11 at Baltimore: Saw action on special teams in his first career game…9/18 vs. Seattle: Recorded one special teams tackle…10/9 vs. Tennessee: Inactive due to an ankle injury…10/16 vs. Jacksonville: Registered one special teams tackle…10/23 at Arizona: Recorded first career tackle on defense…10/30 vs. New England: Saw action in the secondary and on special teams…registered a career-high four tackles…part of a defense that held the Patriots to 198 yards passing…11/6 vs. Baltimore: Recorded three tackles and one special teams tackle…11/13 at Cincinnati: Totaled one tackle and a career high two special teams tackles…12/4 vs. Cincinnati: Finished with one special teams tackle…12/24 vs. St. Louis: Tied career high with two special teams tackles…1/1 at Cleveland: Left the game in the second quarter with a shoulder injury and did not return…AFC Wild Card Game 1/8 at Denver: Inactive due to a shoulder injury.

COLLEGE: Cortez Allen started 28-of-39 games for the Bulldogs...recorded 121 tackles (77 solos) with three stops for minus-seven yards and a pair of fumble recoveries...deflected 16 passes and intercepted five others for 130 yards in returns and two touchdowns...also returned a partially blocked punt five yards to set up a scoring drive...became the sixth player in Southern Conference history to generate 100 yards via interceptions in a game...his 112 interception return yards as a junior marked just the sixth time a Bulldogs player amassed over 100 return yards in a season (first since 1977)...was also part of a 2009 squad that averaged 37.33 yards per interception return in 2009 (11 for 341 yards), breaking the old FCS team season record of 34.45 yards per return by the 2001 North Carolina A&T team (20 for 689 yards)...also recorded 13 tackles on special teams...did not allow any receptions in 13 of the 29 games he started...in 2010, became the first NCAA Football Championship defender to intercept the first play from scrimmage and return it for a touchdown in a season opener, accomplishing that feat vs. Chowan University...majored in health and wellness. 2010: Started all 11 games...earned All-Southern Conference second-team honors from the league’s coaches...rated the second-best draft eligible cornerback in the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision ranks by The NFL Draft Report...recorded 23 tackles (13 solos)...led the team with six pass deflections and intercepted two passes for 18 yards, including one touchdown...made eight of his stops inside the red zone, including two on goal-line plays. 2009: Started all 11 games...an All-American third-team choice by The NFL Draft Report...received second-team All-Southern Conference honors from the league’s media...ranked second on the team with 57 tackles (36 solos)...became the sixth player in school history to record over 100 return yards with his pass thefts (112), the highest total by a Bulldog since 1977...added two tackles on the Bulldogs’ kickoff coverage unit. 2008: Played in all 12 games, starting six at cornerback...finished ninth on the team with 39 tackles (27 solos), as he posted a pair of stops behind the line of scrimmage...recovered a fumble and deflected five passes, as he also fielded a partially blocked punt for a five yard return. 2007: Saw action on special teams in four games...finished with a pair of tackles. 2006: Redshirted as a freshman...appeared briefly in the Georgia Southern game.

PERSONAL: Cortez Allen attended North Marion High School (Ocala, Fla.) where he was a track standout before joining the football team during his senior campaign...helped the team record a 10-4 record and capture the 2005 regional championship...earned Class AAA All-State, All-City and All-District V honors, in addition to being named the Colts’ Most Improved Player...recorded 45 tackles (24 solos) with five pass deflections, one interception and one fumble recovery during the regular season (11 games)...competed in the prestigious North-South All-Star Classic... Louis Green and Lois Allen...Full name: Cortez Laquan Allen.